CONFECTIONERY AND FINE FOODS

Perfetti Van Melle leaps into Orlando with novelty candy lines

Manager Global Duty Free Susan de Vree pictured with the Chupa Chups Giant Frog at the 2013 IAADFS Duty Free Show of the Americas

Dutch group Perfetti Van Melle showcased its wide range of confectionery lines for adults and children at the IAADFS Duty free Show of the Americas - including Mentos, which is a "huge" brand in the US market.

"Travel retail is a growing and important market for us," Manager Global Duty Free Susan de Vree told The Moodie Report at the Orlando show in April 2013.

"Our Mentos brand is huge in the US; travel retail is still small, but it's big in the domestic market," she said, adding that Chupa Chups was also growing in popularity on domestic markets across the region.

Cruiselines is an "underdeveloped" sector for Perfetti, she noted, "but they are focused on kids more and more, and we're finding that they are contacting us."

Onboard airlines, Perfetti has done samplings with Mentos Mini packs, which are given out before landing.

Novelties for 2013

Product-wise, new novelties for 2013 include the Chupa Chups Crazy Plane, comprising a lollipop and an airplane toy. When a button is pressed, the lollipop spins.

Backpacks containing lollipops continue to be a major focus, including the new Chupa Chups Cool Friends Backpack. The soft toy, available in frog, crocodile and monkey designs, contains a variety of 16 lollipops.

Also on show was the Meller caramel and chocolate brand, which is now being targeted at the Americas market. A white chocolate version was launched at the TFWA World Exhibition in October 2012.

"Meller is a strong brand particularly in Russia - and where Russians travel - Europe and Asia. It's rotating well in MENA markets, and now we are promoting it in the Americas," noted de Vree.

Meller is offered in travel retail exclusive packaging, consisting of six packs in a tube.

A new bubblegum flavour for Mentos Jumborolls, Tutti Frutti, is being promoted in the US market. Some 30 Mentos flavours are now available across global domestic markets, with around eight offered in travel retail. De Vree said the company could produce more local flavours of its candy lines, where required.

Also new to the product line-up for the Americas is the Chupa Chups Mix of Minis, first introduced at the Cannes fair in October 2012.